Storm kills people, knock down trees, damage cars, homes in Islamabad

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The storm disrupted power supply, uprooted hundreds of trees, damaged houses and cars, collapsed billboards, within a span of less than an hour

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Powerful thunderstorm hammered the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, on Wednesday night, killing at least 10 people and injuring many more.

The storm disrupted power supply, uprooted hundreds of trees, damaged houses and cars, collapsed many poles and billboards, within a span of less than an hour due to strong winds of over 100 km per hour.

At least 94 injured people were brought to different hospitals in the twin cities —22 at PIMS, 44 at Polyclinic, and 28 at Holy Family Hospital on late Wednesday night. Police said a roof collapsed in Margallah town which resulted in the death of two girls and their mother. Two siblings died in Qasimabad area of Rawalpindi.

The gusty winds sweeping across the twin cities reportedly blew at a speed of 148 km/h and 120 km/h in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, respectively.

The Metro Bus service and flight operations at Benazir Bhutto International Airport were immediately suspended.

Several major roads in Rawalpindi and Islamabad ncluding the parts of Islamabad Highway, Khayaban-i-Suhrawardy, the Attaturk Avenue, Margalla Road, Aabpra Road were blocked by debris. Cars and other vehicles were severely damaged after trees and boards fell on them.

Amid the windstorm, a fire broke out in the Sabzi Mandi area of I-11 after a utility pole fell on the vegetable stalls. There were reports that the fire had spread to a hypermarket in the area, but no loss of life was reported in the incident.

Islamabad received 14 millimeter rain bringing down the mercury that had hit 40 degree centigrade early in the day. The wind blew with 60km per hour speed in the city while its direction remained south-east, according to MET Office.

MET office has said that a western disturbance was affecting upper parts of the country and is likely to persist till Friday. “Scattered rain-thunderstorm with gusty winds is expected in FATA, KP (Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Kohat, Mardan, Bannu division), Islamabad, Upper Punjab (Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Lahore, Faisalabad divisions), Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir and at few places in DG Khan, DI Khan, Quetta, Zhob and Multan division.

Power supply remained disrupted for more than 12 hours after the storm in many parts of the twin cities.

Lightning strikes #Islamabad with severe rain and storm. #IESCO making life miserable with #Loadshedding pic.twitter.com/iXn6qdRFxZ

— Arshad Sharif (@arsched) June 1, 2016

Flight operations at Islamabad Airport were put on hold due to harsh weather. Normal operations resumed Thursday morning.

Flight operations at BBIA of #Islamabad are back to normal. Thank you for your patience & cooperation, committed to passenger safety. — CAA Pakistan (@AirportPakistan) June 1, 2016

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Scenes of chaos on social media

People shared photos and videos of destruction in their areas, advising others to stay inside and safe.

#Storm in Islamabad. pic.twitter.com/rC00zSjqew

— Dr. Nabeel Alvi (@RphNabeel) June 1, 2016

#Islamabad after thunderstorm ? pic.twitter.com/T2wnX3X1CC

— Javeria Siddique (@javerias) June 1, 2016

Several people dead, many injured after powerful storm hits Islamabad. Cars, homes destroyed. Huge trees down pic.twitter.com/iRLloHuoX7

— Islamabad Scene (@IslamabadScene) June 1, 2016

Morning after a stormy night #Islamabad pic.twitter.com/teZAQNbSUB

— meena gabeena (@gabeeno) June 2, 2016